Valve for operating rock-drills.



PATLNTLD JUNE 2s, 1908,. G. A. PowLLL. VAL-VL POL OPERATING RccK DRILLs.

nrmouyroz HLLD JULY 1o, 19m.

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PATLNTED JUNE z3, 190s.

No. aglifrz.

f G. A. POWLBR. VALVE POR OPERATING ROCK DRILLS.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 1Q, 1907.

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' Tov all'whom it concern:

tlNirED SMELQATENT GFF 'l e GEORGE ALLEN FowLER, OE GEORcETowN, COLORADO, AsvsIeNoR or ONEHALF'TO EDWARD J. WILCOX, or DENVER, COLORADO, AND ONE-EOURTHTO FRANK-v. GOETZ,

OE CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, COLORADO.

` VALVE :son OPERATING RocKLDRrLLs.

Specification o flpetters Patent.

Patented June 23; 1908,'

Application filed July 1o, 1907. serial mesetas;

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALLEN, Fow- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Georgetown, in the county ofClear Creek and Statel of Colorado, have invented Improvements in Valves for Operating Rock- Drills, of which the following isa speciiication.

The invention which 'is thesubject ofY this patent relates tovalve's for Operating rock drills and in which pneumatic poweris emloyed to effect a thrusting action of the rills; and my said invention consists ofcertain novel parts landfcombination of arts, which areparticularly pointed ou't an dese ignated in the claims concluding this specifv cation.

I The drill-hammers or pistons are caused. to .operate in groups withina block and one of the objects of my improvements is tocause the operation of the drills so thaty their `thrusting blows will alternate and thus reduce the shocks on the mechanism to a minimum. A'construction of block having a lurality of chambers each containing a dr1l carrying chuck and its actuating hammer, the said chambers being so related by passages that communicate with an inlet Avalve and an exhaust valve, both rotatable together, `that the drills are actuated in vgroups which alternate in striking a blow,

said mechanism being cushioned in its blow striking and eturn movements within the block. The block has a sectional construetion which renders it convenient for housing the drill actuatin parts, and the power con-l ducting passages y which they are operated.

An important feature of my invention resides in means for pivotally mounting the valved drill-block so that the angle oi its operating face may be adjusted and heldl at the desired. angle in relation to the breast wall without interfering with the operation lof the drills or the valves and their mechanically operated connections, whereby a high rate of' speed and power may be given the drills. t

The tubular inlet and the exhaust valves are rotated continuously preierabl in the same direction by gear and suitab e power connections, and their construction and an rangementin relation to the drill actuating hammers and to passages communicating with bothffends osaidhammers or pistonsl to4 effect their .alternate operation, isalso a feature of' my mvention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention of' agrou -of drill actuating hammers and a pair o mechanically operated valves constructed and arrangedfto operate byI pneumatic` powerv all the hammers r 'groups'7 in alternate order, andin whichr- Figure l isa horizontal transverse sectionof the swingx valved drill block takenv on, the line y of Fig.`5 and showing the-` center drillactuatingV hammer in elevation and itsl relation' to the gear actuated tubular i-nlet and exhaust valves'andA the ports and pastherewith and' with the A' sages communicatingl hammer and chuckcad'. Fig;A 2.is an identical section olil thefswing valved'- drill' block.

taken on: the line t-l of F ig. 5 showing the` l outside drill' actuating hammers elevation; and their relation to the gear actuated tubularinlet and.k exhaust valves and theports and passagesV connected therewith and Y with l the hammersand chuck-head. Fig. 3' is an,A identical section ofi theswing valved drill block taken on the line m-n O'f Fig. 5` showing' the ear actuated tubular` inlet and' eX- llation thereto of the central and slde drill. operating hammers Fig. 4' shows inf topv view the swing valved drill block` and-the gear by which the valves are rotated'. Fig. 5 is a front elevation or drill face ofthe swing drill. valve block showing'the gear actuated valves in dotted lines and-thearrangement .o the drill-chucks in threeseparatev` andydis-f. tinctverticall rows. F ig; 6 is-akviewvotthe drill block showing intheuppenpavt a par--k tial side elevation, in the next lower part va i gartialfvemrtical section on theline c-dxof 'i ig 2, and belowY this 'apartial'v elevationot the inner face of the outer'section 1 of the,`

partialvertical section taken on the line a`b of Fig. 2, bothfsectionsshowing the drill-g,v hammers in elevation, their chambers and drill chucks and also showing the pivot,

inountings ofthe drill block and the gear con-iv nections for rotating the valves. Fig. 7 is a vertical section showingthe tubular inletA valve in partial elevation vand section .anda

double row ot ports arranged therein in spiral l`14'05:

form lengthwiseot' the-valve as the meanesty xy haust va ves, the dotted lines showingltherevL Aas i ,90 drill block, the lowermost portion showing a t all secured together by any suitable means. Each of theseblock sections is formed with a plurality of horizontally disposed cylindrical chambers arranged in vertical alinement, the chambers 27, in the outer sections 1 and 2 being disposed in the same horizontal planes and each of the chambers 17 in the middle section being disposed below the horizontal plane connecting a pair of chambers 27 in the other seotions'as in F ig. 5. The chambers 17 and 27 are each composed of a front ortion 15, a rear portion 26, and an interme iate portion. The intermediate portion is of less diameter than either of the portions 15'or 26 and the functions of these` separate chamber diameters will be presently stated. The front portion 15, receives a drillchuck '14, having a head and a drill holding shank, the latter being adapti ed to be reciprocated through an opening in a screw-threaded plug 40, one of which closes the front end lof each chamber. Therear portion 26, receives a disk 25 which is held y pressure in a manner hereinafter indicated, against the shoulder formed at the meeting plane of the rear and intermediate portions of Aa chamber. Hammers or pistons 6, and 23, are seated respectively in the chambers 17 and 27 and are each adapted as hereinafter explained, to be reciprocated betwecnythe head of a drill-chuck 14,- and the disk'25.'

said section 4 and receives the exhaust valve 12, whose lower end passes out of the bottom of said sectlon and is open to exhaust to the atmos here as in'lig` 5. rl`he inlet valve and pressed air.

the ex aust valve are each in the form of a hollow cylinder having a closed up er end andthe bore forming the passage for the comy Each valve is provided lwith diametrically opposed orts 38, which extend from the interior bore t rouoh the shell of the valve. T hese ports 38, of the exhaust valve are 1n horizontal alinement with the ports 38,

f of the inlet valve as will be seen in'Figs. 1 and 2 and the Vports of both valves ares irally arranged for a purpose which I shall) presently state. The valve 8, has however, in

addition to its ports 38, a plurality of ports 39 all of which are on a horizontal plane and art, located mediately of the length of the va ve.

enters from the inlet valve pipe 9, which has Through the ports 39 compressed airl se 1,472 v a flexible connection (not shown) for the pur-I.

pose of' ermitting the swing adjustment of the drill lock.

Looking at Fig. 3, it will be seen that the ports 39, permit the continuous passage ofl compressed air into the central bore of valve 8, and also beyond this valve into a horizontally disposed passage 19, which connects with vertically disposed assages 7, one of which is provided for eacli vertical series of rear chambers 26, which are thus kept under a constant pressure of air, this pressure holding the disks 25, againstthe shoulders of thel chambers, and forming thereby the air cushion for the rearward stroke of the pistons. The passages 7, and 19 arefor convenience formed in the inner face of the rear section 4. This section is also provided with horizontally disposed'4 assages 10, and 28Which alternate vertica ly in section '4 as seen in Fig. 6, each of these assages being on a horizontal plane whici passes through alin'ing ports 38 in valves 8 and 12. .The passages 10 and 28 at their extremities, are adapted to" f re ister'with the ports 38 of inlet and exhaust valves when they have been rotatedf'to a registering position; it will however, be understood that when a port 3S, in one of the.

valves, is in communication with a horizontal passage 10, or 28, the port 38, in the other valve, in horizontal alinement witlrlthe first indicated port 38, is positioned tohe out of register with the said horizontal passage thus closing one end of this passage.

The passages 10, near each end thereof,

connect with passages 18, one of whichextends along the inner face of section 1, and `the other extends along the inner face of section 3. The passages 18, 'at their forward ends each connects with a transverse passion 5, which communicates Withlthe frontv portion 15 of chambers 27. i

The passages 28, near each end thereof,

connect with passages 22, one of which ex-v tends along the inner face of block 1, and the 115 otheralong the inner face of block 3. Each of the passages22 connects with a transverse passage 24 which enters the chambers 27, at a point immediately forward of the disk 25; and the passages 22 also Iconnect with transverse passages 20, which enter the forward portions 15, of the chambers 27, at a point immediately 'to the rear of the plugs 40. One of the passages 22 is also in communication with transverse passages 21 and 29, each of which terminates 1n downward extension, that of passage 21 entering the front portion 15 of chamber 17, immediately to the rear of its closing plug 40; and that of passa e 29 front of the disk 25.

distinction to being vrotated by iiuid presling the inlet pipe 9, which 'is in communicasage'.

`The inlet valve 8, and the exhaustvalve,

are each held in their chambers byy a collar-` bearng 41 which'is secured in la suitable manner to'the up er face of the drillfblock,

` .a journal from eac `val've extending through4 its collar-bearing andc'arrying at its `u per, extremities a ear-wheel, the gear-whee 31. of the -inlet va ve, andthe gear-.Wheel 33 of the exhaust valve, being ininesh withzaspurgear 32, mounted onthe upper end ofla shaft, which is journaled in abearmg 34,l carried by the drill-block, and also journaled inra bears ving 35, carried yby"the,machine,,and upon which the block bearing 34 rests. The lower end of this shafthas secured-thereto Aa bevel gear 36 which is mesh vwith a bevel gear 37,

' actuated by power. The importance of this system of gearing i'n connectionwith the 'valves is that the valves are therebyl rotated means of a lower hinge composed of an arm l 42, having Aa pintle memberv andl carried by the drill-block and resting upon an` arm -r43, and it will be understood ythat the .block supporting arm`sn35 and 43, are members of a machine not shown-on which the drillbloclr is mounted and carried.

In use, Ithe drill-block, supported prqeferably in the manner stated, 1s `brought into operative contact with the surface to be opverated upon, a breast wall in a tunnel for inp stance, and the valve, (not shown)` controltion with .the compressed air supplybeing open, ,the gears 31 and 33 are simultaneously rotated bythe spur-gear4 32, to the'` shaft .of which power 1s imparted Aley the bevelgear 37 the latter beingactuated by mechanismln'ot illustrated) carried` by the machine as stated.

Themlet and exhaust valves are pos1,

tioned primarily so that when a port4 38 vin one valve yis in communicatlon with one end of a horizontal'passage in se'ctionfi, the horizontally alining port- 38 ,in 'the other valve.

is lout of communication with the other` end of thehorizontal passage, th'e solid portion` ofthe latter valve closing this end of the .pas-

This will bescenfin Fi s. 1 andl 2.

' y With this understanding, it wil be nowlas- .I device, in the cylindricalv rborefofl the ,inlet 65 valve, new passes thereromhthrough port of chambers 27 at apoint `between the heads position.

sumed that the valves have been turned to the position shown .in Figs. 1 andf2, which represent thepistons as havingfstruekthe drill-chucks, and as returning totheir initial A port 38 of inletvalve 8, is in communication with one -end'.otpassage A10,

the other end of this passage beingclofsed byA the exhaust valve. ACompressed',,air Abeing always present, during the yoperationfof the valve, with the atmosphere.

38 of the'inletvalve into passage 10,-thence into bothassages 18, from whencel it flows i .through t e transverse assagcs 13 tothe center;chamber`--17, an Lalso through; the transverse passages 16 and th'eir upwardly, extending continuations 5, to the outer cham*- bers 27; The compressed airthus entersthe chambers 17 and 27 immediatelybehind .thef head of the drill-chucks, and between them andtheir actuating hammers. This causes the hamr sars to travel `to the rear, theirv travel in this direction beingstopped-by contact with thedisk 25 which as before explained being pressed forward by a constant airpressure, forms an air cushion -for the rearward stroke of the hammers. While the 'y compressed `air was entering between-the chuck-heads and hammers as just stated, and

as illustrated in 1, compressed yair which had been .used during the previousforward movement of the `hammers was being exhausted, by thesystem of ports and passages shown in Fig. 2, from thesarne three cham-v bers. The system of passages shown in Fig.

2, extendas stated to ,thesamethreeeham-` bers, considering thechambers as a wholev and not their 4subdivision into portions as 4do the passages shown ink Fig. 1. These sysvtems of vpassages vare therefore on Adii'lerent 95 horizontal planes, the system-shown in Fig. f 2 beingLasbovebthoseshown inFig. 1, the `vertical passages 21 and29 extending down to the center chamber shown in Fig.- 1, whose drillis actuated inunison with the drills of the outer chambers shown'inFig. 2; andthe passages 5 of the system shown i'n'Fig. 1 eX tending upward from the plane` or' the chamber therein shown tothe bottom of the outer chambers shown in Fig. 2.

The exhausting of the 'three chambers by the parts inthe position illustrated in Fig. 2, j

is accomplished in the followinginanner:

. When' the valves had been turned to kthe por sitionshown inFigs. land 2, the ports 38 in .i

each valve, by reason of their spiral arrange mentdo not all'aline vertically, hen'eewhile the ports 38 in Fig. l, occupied the position shown therein, the ports 380n'a planeabove that of Fig. 1 occupiedthe position shown Ain Fig. 2. Inthis position ,the solid portion of the inlet Valve closesth'e inletend'of passage 28 therebypreventing the entrance of com-y pressed .air and one of the ports 38 of the exhaust valve is in communicationv with the other end ofpassage 28, thereby connecting that passage, through the bore of the exhaust@ The .passage 28, vby means of the connecting passages 22,

landtheirY transverse connections 24 and '20', t

in front of th disks25, this being accom- .,p'lished throughtheportsf; and the pas-.1 sages l2() exhaust from the front\portions.\15

of the chucks and the lugs 40. The branches 21 and 29 of one of t e passages`22 exhaust respectivel the front ortion 15 or chamber 17, and t e interme iate ,ortion -of this .chamber between the rear or 4its hammer 6, and disk 25. The explanation so far covers the admission of compressed air to drive the hammers 6 and 23, of the three chambers considered,back to their initial'posit'ion, and it also covers the simultaneous exhausting of compressed air from these chambbrs from the rear of the hammers and from in front ofthe `chuck-hernie... If the inlet and exhaust valve be now considered as having been rotated a quarter of a turn beyond the ositions shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.it will beevi ent that in Fig. 1 the solid ortion of inlet valve will have closed the et end of passage 10, and a` port 38 of the exhaust valve will have registered with the exhaust end of assage 1G, and in Fig. 2 a port 38 in inlet va ve will have regist tered with passage 28, and a solidpcrtion of the exhaust valve will have closed the ex'- haust end of this passage. With` this position of the parts the passage 10 will now exhaiist compressed air fromthe chambers 17 and 27 between the Vrear of the chuck-heads and. the front of the'hammers and the passage 28 will simultaneously admtcoinpressed arr-to' the rear of the hammers between them andthe disks '25, driving the hammers .for-

ward, and the 'passages 28 will at-the same time admit compressed air in' front of the chuck-heads to cushion them against -the blow of their hammers.` This completes one 'cycle of movements; and it will be therefore seen that the passages 10 and 28 with their respective connections act alternately as in-v let and exhaust passages; and as each of the' valves'S and 12 are provided with-diametrically opposed ports 38, each ofthe passages 10 and 28,' during a complete revolution of the valves, will act twice .as an inlet and twice as an exhaust passage.

The explanation of the operation hasse far been confined to 'three chambers; two outer chambers 27 and a central chamber 17 but as before explained the chambers with operation of the groups is accon'xplished by lmeans of the spiral arrangement of the ports 38 in the inlet valve and in thc exhaust valve. By this arrangement these ports are in engagement with alternate passages 10, likewise with alternate assages 28K; and at one time the first, thir and fifth;-traizxsverse...`

groups of hammers move forwaid to strike 4their` drill-chucks, while the second, fourth and sixth transverse grou s of. hammers move backward to their initial positions and vice versa. The object and result of this is toffrlieve the block .and its working parts from'the shock of the blows deliveredin one direction, for the 0 posing blows counter"l balance and relieve t e block fTOm 011e Sided strain; While the air cushions formed in front of the head of thedrill-chuck and at the back ofthe disks take up the impact of the blows" and save" the block-parts from being injured. f

It might be .said that the air ,cushion inA the front ortion of each chamber 15 mi ht 'reduce t e desired force ofthe hammer ow on chuck-head because" the pressure is equal in chambers 15in front ot the chuck-head se and back ofthe hammers inthe chambers 17 and 27. 'But' the fact is, the drills are at all times of the operation within one-fourth inch or less, of the rock, while the area of the chuck-head on the cushion side is much less than the area of thehammer due to the fact.

that the areaof the shank of the drill-chuck. noty being subjected to the pressure of-compressed, air, reduces by that much the area of the chuck-head under, pressure; andfurther, the' cushion chambers 'are not' ycut oit from air passages leading ythereto by chuckin lthe chambers and long air passages is only suilicient toy protect the front head 40,

head, so that the slightcompression of air shouldthe drill not reach the breast of roclef 'It will be noted 4that the momentum ac-' quired by the hammers. due to their travel under pressure aids in preponderating to the desire' extent over th lpressure in front of the chuck-heads.

Tl e formation of the@ -1 block into sections is for the convenient and j accurate construction and registering relation of the ports and their communicating' passages.

The provision of lvotally mounting ther valved drill-block al ows it to be swung to the right or to, thesleit to adjust it and toV bring its face at the desired angle to the work z jj AIll-51` and in reversing the travel ofthe block when it has reached the limit of its movement along the breast to the side wall, so-that the drills are caused to travel laterally back-and forth as they are advanced in the work. Itl will be understood that any suitable means may be provided whereby the lateral swing or adjustment of the pivotally mounted drill- 'block `can be effected and controlled. For

instance the swing adjustment of the-block can be made -by the attendant using his hands applied to either side of the block at its front and thus swing it the desired distano( while the gearing, the weightA of the block and the friction of .its pivotal mounting ol" the block will hold 1t 1n a set position.

san/rre Obviously since the ports .in each yof vthe positively operated valves includingmeans valves are arranged dlametrically opposite, in association therewith for mechanically the valves may be rotated in either direction. controlling a su-pply of air under compression Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that to the passa es and its exhaust therefrom 5 the center of the pivotal mounting of the whereby the ammers are driven forward to 7.3

drill-block, and the center of the s ur-gear 32 strike a blow and are then returned to their which drives the gears of thei et and exinitial position.

` haust valves, are coincident, thus the valve 5. In a device of the character described, a

gear connection will be maintained 'through`v t' block having-a plurality of' chambers therein,

i out all adjustments of the block. a plurality of hammers one operative in each 7,5,

A novel and advantageous feature of my chamber, a drill-chuck foreach hammer, aninvention is, that a pairof mechanically operinlet valve and ani exhaust valve .including ated valves are adapted to operate any de' means in association therewlth for mechanicsired number of hammers by air ,pressure in ally conolling a supply of au under comone body bymeans of communicatin ports pressionto actuate saidl hammers, said' block g@- and passages whereby vthe power is istrib' aving yassages leading from sald valves to uted to the hammers, so that they operate as each en of each chamber,l the inlet and the described; while/the valves may be rotated exhaust valve controlling the hammers in either direction and accomplish the same groups and causing the' alternate operation result. of the groups of drills. 35 I wish it to beunderstood that I do not 6. In a device of the character described, a desire to be limited to the'exact details of block having a plurality of .chambers therein, construction shown and described, for obvia hammer in each chamber, a drill chuck for ous modifications. will occur to a 'person each hammer, an inlet valve, an exhaust y skilled in the art. valve each valve having spirally arranged 90 I claim: l orts, said* block having a passage leading 1. In a device of the character described, a roml each chamber at a point between the block having a plurality of chambers, and chuck-head and the hammer and connecting motor fluid passages communicating with witlrthe inlet valve and with the exhaust each chamber at each end thereof, a pistoni valve, and having a second passage leading 95 hammer arranged to operate in each chamfrom each chamber at apoint in front of the ber, the chambers, the passages and the chuck-head and also at a point back of the drill-chucksarranged inoperative groups, hammer and communicating with -the inlet and a pair of mechanically rotating valves valve and with the exhaust valve, and means each having ports arranged to cause theo er- 1n associationVV therewith for mechanically 100 i ation of the drill-chucks in groups w 'ich controlling asu ply of air under vcompression' alternate in striking a blow. to actuate said ammers, the assages being 2. In a device of the character diescribed, a so disposed with reference to the ports' of the block having a plurality of .chambers and valves that the hammers are operated in 40 motor fluid passages' communicating with groups which alternate in striking a blow. 105 each chamber, a piston-hammer operatively 7. A. drill block formed of alurality of mounted in each chamber, and a' air of longitudinal sections joined side by side and valves mounted in the block and eachhaving a transverse end section, and having a series l ports arranged and caused to control the flow of chambers one above the other in each lonof the motor Huid through the passages to gitudinal section, a drill holding chuck and 110 actuate the drills in alternate grou is, means its operating hammer in each ohamber,' an for continuously rotating the valves, and inlet valve, an exhaust valveboth valves bemeans for connecting them to effect their rcing located in the end section ofthe block and tation in unison. each valve being formed of a pair of rotatable 3. In a device of the character described, hollow cylinders having ports'fcrmed in the 115 a block, having a plurality of chambers l shell and spirally arranged in each valve, said therein, a hammer for e`ach chamber, and a block having passages formed in the inner drill-chuck for each hammer, said block havface of the end section and extending from ingpassages communicating with the chamthe inlet valve tothe exhaust valve, each A bers`,'and valves including means in associa` passage being in horizontal alinement with 120 tion therewith for mechanically controlling alining ports in the inlet and exhaust valves, air under compression to the passages and io said blockha ving alsopassages formed in the its exhaust therefrom that the drills are actuinner faces of the longitudinal sections of the ated in groups which *alternate in striking a block and connecting with' the transverse L blow. .i A passages inthe end section, two of these pas- 125 4. Ina device of the character describeha sages being provided for-v each vtransverse block having a plurality of chambers therein, groups of chambers, oneQc-f which is in each' a hammer for each chamber,l and .a drill for longitudinal section, oneoflthese ,longitudinall each hammer, said yblock having passagcs i assages leadingfrom'itsfc'l embers atapoint leading to each end of-eacnchamben and tween thechnok-hcffl the hammers and communicatin with one of'the transverse passa es in t e end section the other longitudin passage communicating with the same chambers at two oints one in front 'of the chuck-heads and t e other back of the hammers 'and communicating with a second passage 1n the "end section; alr under compression supplied to the inlet valve, and

. means for positively and simultaneously optrolle by, the valves to act alternately as ineratin the valves, the passages being conlet and exhaust passages', and thetransverse groups of drills are caused to alternate in striking a blow.

8. A -block having a chamber therein, a

drill holding chuck and its operating'hammer mounted in the chamber, an inlet valve,` an exhaust valve, said block having a passage i Y- lead' g '-i'ro'ni the chamber at a point between `the dull-chuck and hammerand communi# eating with the inlet valve and with theex-y nhaust valve said block having also. a second `passage leading from the chamber at two valves.

-vs i, i, va ve, and having also a second passage com- 9. A block'having a chamber therein, a drill-holdl chu'ckand'itso erating hammer, an inlet v ve, and an exhaust valve, saidA block having a passage leading 'from the i [chamber 'at a v.point back of the chuck-head and in front of the hammer and communicatin with' the inlet valve and with the exhaust 1 lInunicatingwith the chamber at two points one in rontofv the chuck and theother back Vmunicatin'g withgftherear end1 ortion jofthel of the-hammer and communicatin with the inlet valve and. with the exhaust va ve, a con# stantly maintained iluid cushion supplied at the rear of the chamber, and means for mechanically operating the inlet valve and the exhaust valve.

' 10. A- block having a cylindrical chamber therein, each end -portion whereof is of greatel diameter than the intermediate portion, a hammer-adapted to be reciprocated in the intermediate ortion of said chamber, a drillfholding cliuclil having a head ada 'ted to .be reciprocated inthe front end'po ion of saidchamber, ai'disk 'seated inthe iront of thei'ear end portion of said chamber against the 'shoulder ormed b the intermediate por- -tion thereofthe bloc havingfa duct comchamber V'attlie Lrear of the ".3 i svk,' anfinle't valve and anfexhaust valveth'` inlet valve bein in constant open vc.ommunication with the uct communicating with therear end portion and maintaining constant pressure against the rear of the disk therein said block having a passage 13, 18 and 10 leading from the front portion ofthe chamber at a point back of the chuck-head and communicating with the inlet-valve and with thia exhaust valve, said block having also a second pas- A sage 20, 22, 24 and 28 communicating with the frontend pl'ortion of the chamber in front I of the chuck ead and communicating'also with .the rear end` of the intermediate portion of the chamber and communicatin also fluid sup lyvfrom this passa e. 'Y

1 1. A. lock having a plura ity of hammerchambers therein in groups a dril1chuck in "when the exhaust valve is exhausting a pas- 'sa e' the inlet valve has cut off the'mctive each chamber, an actuating hammer for each drill-chuck, an inlet and an exhaust valve having ports and housed Within said block, said block having passages communicatin with each'end of each hammer-chamber an with the ports in said inlet. and exhaust valves, ,andl gear connecting the valves, whereby the valves are positively rotated together.

12. A block, having a plurality of hammer-chambers therein m groups, ay drillchucksfor each chamber, anactuating harnmer for each drill-chuck, an inlet valve andan4 exhaust valve having orts and housed within said block, said bloc having'passages communicating with each end cf'each ham.

mer and with ports in said inlet and exhaust valves,and'power operated gear connecting the valves, a pivotal mounting for the block, the center of said pivotal mounting and the center of the valve rotating gear being coin- A laident, whereby the valve ear connections will be maintained in any a justment 'of the v block on its pivotal mounting.

. 13. In a device of thecharacter'described,

a block having a plnralityfo chambers therein a drill and its o eratmg hammer ineach chamber, saidA bloc having passages leading to each end of'each chamber whereby the drills are arran ed to operate in transverse groups in'said lock,an inlet valve 'having inlet ports mediatel of its lengtliand `,tubu` lar from end to en' and distributing ports extending from the mediate ports toi'each n end of said lvalve and having communication with each chamber of e'achgroup of. drills, and a tubular exlfaust valve having communication with each chamber of. each group of drills and exhausting at its open lower end outside of the block, the ports in the valves being arranged in registering relation te the said passages.

sages. extendiiiil' valve each formed of a'hollow cylinder closed at one end and having ports through its shell the valves being seated in circular chambers formed in the block'the chamber for the inlet valve extending partially through the block and the chamber for the exhaust valve eX- tending through the block the open e'ii'd of the exhaust valv'el ,projecting beyond the bottoin of theblock andthe interior bore ofv each valve forming a fluid passage which is in constant communication With the ports in the shell the valves, and means for holding the valves in place in the block and mechanical meansfor operating the valves.

15. A drill block comprising a central vertical section, connected outer vertical sections and a transverse cnd section,- the central and outer sections having horizontally disposed cylindrical chambersv therein, the chambers of a section beingdn vertical alineinent therein and the chambers of the outer sections being in horizontal alinement and each chamber in t-he central section being disposed below the horizontal plane connecting alining chambers in the outer sections, a d-rill carrying-clluck and its reciproeatory actuating hammer mounted in` each chamber, an inlet val ve and an exhaust valve mounted in the 'end section each valve being in the fori-n of a hollow cylinder having ports throughout its length the said block having horizontal passages leading from the ports of the valves,

to the chambers the ports cont-rolling the 'horizontal passages .to4 cause vthe drills toactua'te in groups, said groups alternating in striking a blow each group comprising three drills one in each section the two outer ones being in horizontal aliiieinent and the drill in the cent-ral section being immediate below the horizontal'plane connecting the outer drills. ,f v

Hi. lii a device of the character described, a block having a plurality of chambers, a drill-carrying chuck, and its actuating hainmer fitted iii each chamber, an inlet valve, and an exhaust valve,-each having aplurality -of ports, and iiieaiisfor mechanically actuat- -iiig the valvcs,1;he said block having pas- ,y 't rom the chambers to the inlet-valve and exhaust valve, the chambers beiiig so related through themeiliuiu of the passages and valves that the drills are actuated in groups which alternate iii striking a blow. l

I7. lii a valve for operating rock drills, a

pluralityr of hammers, a drill carrying chuckhead l'or each hammer housed Within. the, block, said block having passages communicaling with each end of cach haiiiiiiei" and each side ofcach chiick-l'icad, a pair ol' valves housed within the iblock at ,right angles to the movements of' the hammers and having ports, communicating With said passages, and spur-gearing. mounted on the block connecting the pair of valves and rotating .them continuous y inthe same direction and a power operated shaft for operating said gearing.

18. A drill block formed of a plurality of longitudinal sections joined side by s ide,each section containing a hammer, and a hammer actuatedchuck, said block'having passages leading to eaehchamber, and a transverse block section fianking the ends of said longitudinal sections, a pair of valves housed within said end section at right angles to the axis ofsaid hainmers, and having ports communicating by VKa passage common to both valves and which communicates with the passages by which compressed air is delivered to and exhausted fromcthe chambers.

19. In a drill-block having a pluralityof chambers, a hammer for each chamber, a drill-chuck for each hammer, an inlet valve and an exhaust valve each formed of a hollow cylinder closed at one endand having ports through its shell and seated in circular chambers formed in the block,l the interior bore of each valve forming a fluid-passage which is vin constant communication with the -ports in the shell of the valves, said block having connecting fluid operating passages for the chambers and valveports, means for holding the valves in the block, and a power driven shaft for mechanically rotating 'the valves.

20. In' an impact tool having a plurality of chambers, a drill-chuck and a hammer for each chamber, a' pair of cooperating mechanically actuated rotary valves for 'receiving anddistributing the operating motive fluid for the hammers and exhausting it therefrom said block having chamber connecting passages' having communication vwith said pair of valves for supplying the motive fluid toI the hammers,v substantially as vdescribed.

A21.' In an impact tool having a plurality ofchambers arranged in vertical groups, a drillchuck and a hammer for eaeh chamber, a pair of cooperating mechanical ly acttiated rotary Valves, the inlet valve, having ports for receiving and distributing the operating inotive flilidl tf., each hammer, 'and the exhaust valve fhaving ports vcorresponding and in communication with each hammer-chamber,

said. block having a chamber connecting pas- 1 sages having cominunication with said pair of valves for supplying' the motive fluid tov the haiiiiiiers, aiidineans `for connecting and rotating the 'pair of valves' together.

lu testimony whereof have signed my naine to this specilication. iii the presencel ol two subscribing witnesses.

(llCOltUlC ALLEN FOWLlClt.

.Witnessesz v lliaNitY Kiviiiisni lCMi-i, ll.. ANiiniisoN. 

